Obesity Action Coalition Calls for Ban on Fat-Shaming Apps

"You would never see an app target other diseases such as cancer, anorexia or HIV."

Today the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) sent letters to Amazon.com, Apple, Google, and Microsoft, calling for the removal of fat-shaming apps from their app stores and the strengthening of the app review process.

Applications such as Fatify, Fatbooth, and Fat You were all called out by OAC as examples of games that perpetuate fat-shaming and weight bias. According to OAC, 30 percent of girls with excess weight and 24 percent of boys with excess weight are bullied in schools. They fear that apps such as these exacerbate this type of bullying.

"Children are the primary users of these types of apps, and the apps are teaching children that the disease of obesity is a funny cosmetic issue, which we know is not true,” explained Joe Nadglowski, OAC President and CEO, in a press release. “You would never see an app target other diseases such as cancer, anorexia or HIV; therefore, obesity should be treated with the same consideration."

The prevalence of fat-shaming apps came to OAC's attention after a member contacted one of the app's developers over the game's content and was told the app was for entertainment purposes only. “The cavalier response from the app developer only speaks to the severe lack of understanding and respect for the disease of obesity,” said Ted Kyle, OAC Chairman. “There is nothing funny about obesity – period."

You can read the OAC's full letters on their website, where you can also find a petition to support the removal of these apps and stronger app approval guidelines.

Rachel Paxton-Gillilan is a freelance writer. You can find her on Twitter.